Spicy grilled chicken wings are everyone's favorite. Juicy chicken wings are marinated in hot sauce and grilled to perfection. Follow my step by step recipe for instructions to make these wings on your grill.
Summer is for grilling and we are making so many grilling recipes here at Unicorns in the Kitchen. From the best beef shish kabobs and grilled salmon kabobs to shrimp kabobs, it's all about the ingredients in the marinade. This grilled chicken wings recipe is one of our favorites because it has a delicious kick to it!
Table Of Contents:
Why this recipe works
When it comes to grilling, wings are one of my favorite things to grill. The skin gets crispy and charred while the meat is juicy and flavorful. These spicy chicken wings are so easy to make and you can marinate them up to 8 hours ahead of time. The longer they marinate, the more delicious they're going to be.
You can grill chicken wings on charcoal or gas grill. Wings are a crowd pleaser and they're perfect for a barbecue party along some tomato salad or grilled vegetables. I always make a big batch since I know everyone will come back for seconds. If you love wings, make sure to check out my Persian style grilled wings as well!
The marinade
- Hot sauce: One of my favorite sauces when it comes to spicy chicken wings is chipotle sauce. It's made from a rich blend of naturally smoked chipotle peppers. The smokiness adds so much flavor to the wings and is perfect for marinating.
- Honey: To balance the spiciness, I add a few tablespoons of honey to the marinade.
- Lemon juice: To add freshness and give the wings a bright flavor.
- Garlic: You can use less or more garlic if you like, make sure to mince them finely before adding them to the marinade.
- Balsamic vinegar: To bring all flavors together add a bit of sweetness with acidity.
Instructions
- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl and add the wings.
- Mix well with a spatula or a pair of tongs and make sure each wing is fully coated in the marinade.
- Cover and refrigerate marinated chicken wings for at least two hours up to 8 hours for maximum flavor.
- Take the marinated chicken wings out of the fridge and place them on the counter to bring up to room temperature.
- Turn the grill on and wait until it's hot.
- Place the chicken wings on the grill and let them cook covered for about 10 minutes. Flip and let them cook for another 10 to 15 minutes until they are charred, brown and fully cooked.
Serving suggestions
Grilled wings are the perfect party food. You can serve them with some tasty salads such as Mediterranean potato salad, cucumber tomato avocado salad or roasted vegetables. A few slices of toasted sourdough bread or warm dinner rolls would work as well.
Frequently asked questions
You can use frozen chicken wings for this recipe, simply make sure it's fully thawed before you marinate them. Frozen wings are usually more economical than fresh ones and there isn't a big difference in flavor.
Yes, you can use a grill pan to make grilled wings indoors. To do so, make sure the marinated wings are at room temperature and the grill pan is heating over medium high eat. Place the wings in the pan and cook them untouched for about 15 minutes on each side.
Wings usually take about 25-30 minutes in total to cook completely. The skin on some might turn charred sooner than the others. Move those to the sides of the grill where they would keep cooking but won't burn. Grill the wings with the lid closed so the heat stays in.
You'll know the wings are cooked when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the wing registers at 165°F.
Freezing grilled chicken wings will affect their flavor and texture. These are best served immediately when they're crispy and warm. That's when they have the best flavor. However, you can freeze the marinated chicken wings and thaw and grill them when you're ready to serve them.
Notes and tips
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To serve, heat the oven to 350°F and place the wings on a baking sheet. Heat the wings in the oven for 15 minutes or until they're fully heated through.
- I used about 2 tablespoons of chipotle sauce for this recipe which provides a good spiciness. If you would like the wings to be spicier, add more sauce to the marinade.
- Don't flip the wings too many times while grilling them. Let them cook on one side for about 10 minutes and once you see the skin is charred, flip them and grill them on the other side for another 15 minutes.
- How many chicken wings per person? I usually make about 6 to 8 wings per person. If you have teenagers or very hungry guests, it's safe to go with 10 per person.
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Step-by-Step Recipe
Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Gas or Charcoal Grill
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoon Chipotle Sauce
- 1 lemon juice of
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 lb chicken wings
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix honey, chipotle sauce, lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt.
- Add the wings to the marinade and mix well using a spatula or a pair of tongs.
- Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours.
- Once ready to grill, take the wings out of the fridge and place the bowl on the counter. Let the wings come to room temperature. Preheat the grill to medium high (about 400°).
- Place the marinated wings on the hot grill and grill covered for about 15 minutes.
- Check the wings and when they're charred and brown on one side, flip them so they cook on the other side for another 10-15 minutes.
- The wings are cooked when their internal temperature registers at 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Notes
- Serving suggestions: You can serve this dish with potato salad, tomato salad or grilled vegetables.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To serve, heat the oven to 350°F and place the wings on a baking sheet. Heat the wings in the oven for 15 minutes or until they're fully heated through.
- I used about 2 tablespoons of chipotle sauce for this recipe which provides a good spiciness. If you would like the wings to be spicier, add more sauce to the marinade.
- Don't flip the wings too many times while grilling them. Let them cook on one side for about 10 minutes and once you see the skin is charred, flip them and grill them on the other side for another 15 minutes.
- How many chicken wings per person? I usually make about 6 to 8 wings per person. If you have teenagers or very hungry guests, it's safe to go with 10 per person.
Nutrition
This post was sponsored by El Yucateco. All opinions are mine.
Natalie
Perfect juicy marinated chicken recipe! Wow, my family really loved it, thank you!
Brandy
My husband and I really enjoyed this. They were so tasty with just the perfect amount of kick to them! This will be a staple come game day season!
Hanna
My husband and son love, loved these wings! They're such a great flavor combo! Thanks for all the tips and tricks!
Gina
Hot sauce and honey - no better combo on chicken than that! These are the perfect wings for any occasion!
wilhelmina
Made these for watching the game and they were a huge hit! Great recipe!
Suzy
It could be any day of the year and grilled chicken would always be my number one way to cook chicken! I've not heard of this sauce but I do love my spicy food so checking this out!